2026

•  In February, an EXIST board member participated in a monitoring visit to Nigeria. The purpose was to meet the MeCAHT board to strengthen and concretize the collaboration between EXIST and MeCAHT. In addition, we visited 3 safehouses in the Abuja area to follow up on the SHE LEADS project, where 70 women, 30 employees and 30 trainers offer training in three craft subjects. The training ends with a publicly recognized certificate.

2025

• The film I Wish I Knew was screened at the Cinemateket in Copenhagen. Anne Abok, who is a film director, participated together with James Ikape, CEO of MeCAHT, Fula Bulus, CEO of the safehouse Greater Love Lighthouse and Bulus Gwashi, member of the MeCAHT board. There were presentations by four debaters followed by dialogue with participants in the room. The four speakers were: David Zepernick, Chairman of Safe and Alive, Jens Ole Bach Hansen, Ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Katja Gunnertoft Bojsen, Head of Secretariat at CKU, Trine Pertou Mach, Member of the Danish Parliament.

 

• Queen Mary visits Nigeria. In connection with a business promotion, Queen Mary, together with the Minister of Education and Research, Christina Egelund, visited the Greater Love Lighthouse safehouse. It was a significant experience for both residents, employees and organizers. The Queen's visit has contributed to raising awareness about the many different faces of human trafficking. The event ended with a reception at Hotel Nordic Abuja with approximately 120 participants from ministries, the business community and NGOs.

 

• The SHE LEADS project was launched. It supports 70 Nigerian women who have left prostitution and live in a safehouse, an education in three crafts: hairdressing, culinary arts, tailoring. The education ends with a publicly recognized certificate, which helps the women move on in life to become financially self-sufficient citizens. The project is supported by Rotary and Rotaract Denmark, both with commitment and finance.

2024

• Two benefit concerts were held to benefit EXIST's work. Both concerts were held at the Eliaskirken Church on Vesterbro Torv in Copenhagen – the church where Night Light Café has its night café

• The latest film I Wish I Knew premiered at the Silverbird Cinema in Abuja. The premiere was facilitated by the Danish Ambassador Sune Krogstrup and was attended by the Nigerian government, ambassadors from Europe and Africa as well as Nigerian NGOs and churches.

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark chooses to support MeCAHT for a 5-year period. The purpose of the donation is awareness and prevention in Nigeria

 

2023

• Inter-Faith Conference 3 in Abuja with 100 participants from the Muslim and Christian networks and launch of the booklet: An Inter-Faith training manual
• Team from Taiwan holds pastors' conference for 20 Nigerian pastors and workshop for 40 women and 12 staff from 4 safehouses
• The film DESPERATE JOURNEY will be shown in Silverbird cinema with the Danish ambassador as host and with representatives from NAPTIP, African and European embassies and ministries as participants

2022

• 12 employees from 4 safehouses train 6 employees from 2 new safehouses
• Preparation for opening of Hadassah safehouse in Ondo with renovation of buildings and recruitment of 3 staff and 5-8 women
• Inter-Faith Conference 2 in Abuja with 50 participants from the Muslim and Christian networks

2021

• Inter-Faith Conference 1 in Abuja with 40 participants from the Muslim and Christian networks
• Training for 30 employees at 10 safehouses concluded with Red Carpet Celebration
• 2-day LFA workshop for MeCAHT staff for the project: Youth Empowerment in Community Transformation and Poverty Alleviation

2020

• Implementation of the project: Enhancing the Human Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking in Nigeria continues
• The third training (out of five) was held in Abuja in March 2020 for 30 staff from 10 safehouses. The target group is 250 women who have left prostitution behind, of whom 100 will become “ambassadors”. Team from Taiwan participated
• The Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Jesper Kamp, visited the Greater Love Lighthouse safehouse

2019

• Planning and implementation of the project: Enhancing the Human Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking in Nigeria
• The first and second training sessions were held
• The Benin City project entered its second phase

2018

• The Benin City project was planned and implementation began. The film DESPERATE JOURNEYS premiered in Abuja with 250 participants, of which 19 international embassies were represented
• Danish/Nigerian international conference held in Abuja
• Solar energy was installed at the Greater Love Lighthouse safehouse

 

2017

• The film DESPERATE JOURNEYS premiered in Benin City with 430 attendees
• Conference at Ventures Platform and visit to Arla Foods in Lagos with the aim of creating jobs for 20 women
• Training for 24 leaders, housewives and counselors from 8 safehouses and holding a conference for 50 stakeholders from Abuja with a focus on capacity building, networking and inclusion of new partners

2016

• Mapping of 31 safehouses in Nigeria in collaboration with NAPTIP
• Network with the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Torben Gettermann, was established
• MeCAHT and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark collaborated on the project in Benin City: The film DESPERATE JOURNES was shot, 500 women were offered small business start-ups and 100 teenagers were offered schooling/education, all as a preventive effort

 

2014

• Campaigns with the film EUROPE IN MY HEART were carried out in 10 villages in Kaduna State in Nigeria with the training of 30 volunteer local workers
• The Greater Love Lighthouse safehouse in Abuja opened
• Partnership visit from Nigeria to Copenhagen with public debate in Eliaskirken with 78 participants and network among journalists and opinion leaders

2013

• 3 conferences for state leaders in 3 selected states in Nigeria (Oye, Kaduna and Plateau States) were planned and MeCAHT staff completed a leadership training at CRUDAN, Abuja
• Campaigns with the film EUROPE IN MY HEART were carried out in 10 villages in Oye State in Nigeria with the training of 30 volunteer local workers
• Night Light Café at Vesterbro Torv, Copenhagen opened

2012

• The film EUROPE IN MY HEART premiered in Abuja with the participation of international ambassadors, NAPTIP, artists, church and NGO leaders. A total of 450 participants
• Fundraising in connection with the project: 30 campaigns in 3 selected states in Nigeria
• Partnership conference in Abuja focusing on implementation and follow-up of the film EUROPE IN MY HEART

2011

• The film EUROPE IN MY HEART was shot in Nigeria and Denmark
• 12 lectures were held in Denmark with 562 participants
• Continuous fundraising

2010

• Partnership Conference in Jos, Plateau State in Nigeria with the participation of Commissioners and Womens Affairs from Plateau State, NAPTIP, Bishops, Church and NGO leaders
• The NGO Media Village (later MeCAHT) was established
• Content and purpose were defined and work began on creating a script for the film EUROPE IN MY HEART.

 

2009

• Contact was established with Anne Abok, International Director of MeCAHT
• The collaboration was concreted
• Anne Abok visited Copenhagen and planning of joint projects was described